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ProPak Asia 2024: Hub for global manufacturing innovations & trends
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Wednesday, 29 May, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Kimberley Almeida, Mumbai
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ProPak Asia 2024, a leading Asian exhibition showcasing technology in manufacturing, processing, and packaging, is set to take place from June 12 to 15, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Bangna.
Sanchai Numboonnam, general manager of Informa Markets Thailand, said, "Thailand ranks 12th globally in food exports. The government aims to position Thailand as the 'kitchen of the world,' from agricultural production to processing and exports, fostering a hub for food security and the research and development of future foods and high-protein plant-based foods. To support this vision and nurture Thai entrepreneurs, ProPak Asia 2024, as Asia's leading exhibition of processing and packaging technology, adopts the theme 'Empowering Sustainability Processing & Packaging Success with Ideation, Innovation, and Investment.”
For entrepreneurs, staying closely tuned to economic shifts, geopolitical tensions, and cost fluctuations—such as labour, energy, and shipping rates—is crucial. Additionally, they should monitor high policy rates and drought concerns impacting agriculture. On the opportunity side, trading partners continue to seek product stocks for food security and domestic demand. Furthermore, the global tourism and hospitality sectors are thriving, creating opportunities for new market negotiations. The devaluation of the Thai baht also provides an advantage for exports.
The exhibition is divided into eight zones: Processing Tech Asia; Packaging Tech Asia; Drink Tech Asia; Pharma Tech Asia; Lab & Test Asia; Packaging Solution Asia (technology for packaging production); Coding; Marking & Labelling Asia; and Coldchain, Logistics, Warehousing & Factory Asia.
Highlights include: I-Stage: A platform for creative thinking, innovation, and investment in business solutions for the food and beverage industry, FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods), and consumer products.
ProPak Gourmet: Workshops and demonstrations on using technology for processing and product development, focusing on methods to extend freshness and add value to raw materials for meat, poultry, seafood, and aquatic products; Future Food Corner: Exchanging ideas on future food systems with manufacturing and packaging technologies, along with unveiling the future food experience.
Lab & Test Theatre: Stay updated on food safety regulations, inspection technologies, and quality control standards for processing food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and packaging.
Packaging Design Clinic: A zone providing consultation on packaging design.
World Star, Asia Star & Thai Star Packaging Awards Display: Display features packaging designs that have won competitions at national, regional, and global levels. This year is particularly noteworthy as the World Packaging Organization (WPO) has chosen ProPak Asia to host the World Star Global Packaging Award ceremony, recognising winners of the international packaging design competition.
Key seminar platforms include:
Global Packaging Forum 2024: Featuring over 20 global packaging experts discussing future trends across all types of packaging.
Executive Talk: Asian Agri-Food Sector Transformation: Focusing on the processed meat, poultry, seafood, and agricultural product industries, this seminar covers regional business trends and strategies for adding value to products.
Beverage Executive Talk: High-level executives in the beverage industry will share insights and discuss the future direction of the business.
TISTR Seminars: Organised by one of the event's main partners, these seminars and activities aim to enhance Thailand's food and packaging industries through research, development, and innovation promotion.
Moreover, there will be over 120 seminars covering 400 topics, led by speakers and experts. These sessions will address research, innovations in processing, cooking, packaging, and the food and beverage business. They will also discuss various standards and regulations for both domestic and export consumer goods. Additionally, there will be consultations on investment incentives from government and financial institutions. Attendance is expected to exceed 65,000 visitors. More than 10,000 business operators from ASEAN + 4 countries, including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Bangladesh, have been invited to explore technologies, attend seminars, and engage in business negotiations.
Dr Chutima Eamchotchawalit, governor of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), emphasised that the key to developing and increasing the value of Thai food products lies in leveraging research, innovation, and processing and packaging technology. TISTR plays a crucial role in effectively developing these innovations and technologies in the food industry. This includes research and development, promoting innovation, supporting education and training, and fostering partnerships between the private and public sectors. Through these efforts, TISTR supports the government's policy to promote Thai food products as a form of Soft Power, aiming to drive the development and growth of Thailand’s food industry on the global stage.
Regarding support for ProPak Asia 2024, TISTR has consistently collaborated with and backed the event, with a special focus on the packaging and food product technology sectors. The goal is to foster the growth of these industries into producers of top-tier food products meeting global standards. This support encompasses knowledge sharing, skill development, facilitating opportunities for private sector collaboration with the government, and advocating for the integration of technology and innovation in the food sector. At ProPak Asia 2024, TISTR will not only feature a booth but will also host five seminars covering diverse topics pertinent to food, packaging, and sustainability. These seminars will delve into areas such as carbon footprint assessment in packaging, international standards for eco-friendly plastics, enhancing food shelf life through packaging, commercialising protein products from research, and setting and using uncertainty in the development of testing methods. Furthermore, TISTR will provide consulting and research and development support tailored to promising startups within the food industry.
Dr Charoen Kaowsuksai, chairman of Food and Beverage Industry Club, the Federation of Thai Industries, stated that Thailand is one of the world's leading food producers. The country's strengths lie in its food and beverage manufacturing, processing, and related industries, which provide food security and generate significant revenue. Despite the ongoing growth in the food, beverage, and packaging industries, the key challenge is to develop and enhance the value of Thai food and beverage products. Modern entrepreneurs must learn and adapt to advanced production methods, using innovation and technology as the foundation to elevate product standards, improve food safety, reduce energy and production costs, and address labour shortages. Flexibility is crucial, enabling quicker and easier adjustments in production processes. Entrepreneurs should also be bold in creating new and innovative products for an ever-expanding market. They can leverage Thailand's diverse raw materials, local culinary wisdom, and unique Soft Power to add value and develop distinctive food and beverage products.
Dr Visit Limlurcha, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Processed Food and Future Food Committee, highlighted the opportunities and strategies for Thailand's food and packaging industries to thrive in the global market. Despite its vast potential and purchasing power, the global market is fiercely competitive. Expanding market share necessitates a deep understanding of consumer trends and behaviours to offer products that meet demand, captivate interest, and draw in consumers.
Modern manufacturing is increasingly incorporating technology to enhance capabilities. For instance, IoT (Internet of Things) is used to monitor, inspect, and control production processes, optimise raw material and energy use, and reduce production losses. The development of automated machinery and factories, along with robotic technology, helps minimise errors and boost production efficiency. Additionally, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is employed to control and improve production processes, make decisions, analyse raw material quality, monitor production conditions, and evaluate machinery efficiency. AI also simulates production processes and tests and improves them without using actual resources. All these advancements are featured as part of this event.
ProPak Asia 2024, will utilise the entire exhibition space within the halls and front concourse of BITEC, covering over 55,000 square meters. The number of exhibitors has increased by 10% from last year, now totalling over 2,000 from 45 countries. The event will feature international pavilions from 10 countries and regions: Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, North America, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. This offers a convenient way to see new technologies without travelling to Europe or America.
Thailand's food exports have consistently excelled, reaching 372 billion baht in the first quarter of 2024, with a growth of 2.79%. Within agricultural food products, exports totalled 175 billion baht, growing by 8%. The top five products (with growth %YOY) were rice (growing by 49%), poultry products (6% growth), cassava products (declining by 17%), fresh, chilled, frozen, and dried fruits (declining by 13%), and shrimp products (growing by 23%). In the agro-industrial product category, exports amounted to 197 billion baht, experiencing a slight decline of 1.6%. The top five products (with growth %YOY) were canned and processed seafood (growing by 9.5%), sugar and molasses (declining by 33%), pet food (growing by 26%), wheat flour product and other processed foods (growing by 12%), and beverages (growing by 11%). For the first five months of 2024, the value of food and beverage exports is estimated to be around 620-650 billion baht, with a projected total for the year of approximately 1.55 – 1.6 trillion baht, reflecting a 3% growth compared to 2023.
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